The Tumbler's Willy Podcast

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‘Tumbler’s Willy’ is the longest-running TV drama in the world - so how come you’ve never heard of it until now? Maybe you’re a cultural sloth, or perhaps you’ve just been busy chasing your dreams. Whatever, now’s your chance to discover what you’ve been missing for the last 120 years.  Join American sitcom writer Andy Bobrow and UK children’s author Andy Stanton as they take a deep and incredibly dumb dive into this most British-est of shows. If you’ve got any sense at all, you won’t believe your ears.

Starburns Audio


    • Jul 12, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 34m AVG DURATION
    • 13 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Tumbler's Willy Podcast

    Special Bonus Episode with the Binge Boys

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2022 34:06


    Andy and Andy made a special guest appearance on the Binge Boys podcast. It was an utter disaster. We hesitate to play you any portion of this absolute horror show of an interview, but we have managed to cobble together a few decent minutes. Check out the Binge Boys here. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 12 - Happy Birthday, Mr. Tumbler!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2022 37:17


    In our Season One finale, we talk about Tumbler's spectacular 12 hour-long 114th anniversary TV special. Airing on Christmas Day 2016 and honouring not only Tumbler's Willy but also Sir Isaac Newton and (accidentally) James Bond, it was a glittering and emotional night of stars both past and present, alive and dead. That's all for now, Tumbleheads! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 11 - Over To You

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2022 31:18


    We've got mail! In this episode, we answer a number of questions sent in by Tumbleheads all around the world. It's a grab-bag episode of The Tumbler's Willy Podcast, and we guarantee bags will be grabbed. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 10 - Back to the Land: The David Hunch Story, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2022 33:36


    No advance fanfare. No publicity. Just David Hunch and Simon Feathers traveling around Britain in a little wooden wagon pulled by the faithful shire horses Jiminy and Rhubarb, and a stripped-down cast of characters including Tumbler himself, Postmistress Millie, Hoffman the angry German barkeep, and a brand-new character, the Magic Wizard. Through these intimate, spiritual shows, performed to crowds of one or two hundred villagers in fields and meadows, David Hunch sought a deeper communion with his audience than TV could ever provide. And yet, within the space of just a few years it was all to go horribly, spectacularly wrong. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 9 - Wise Beyond His Years: The David Hunch Story, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2022 32:18


    Tumbler's goes looking for a new director, and they find one by sticking a pin in a map. Hear the story of wunderkind TV director, 8-year-old David Hunch and how he completely remade Tumbler's with the help of his trusted accountant, 6-year-old Simon Feathers. Together they take Tumbler's on the road once again reinventing the show that reinvented the entire concept of reinvention. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 8 - The Garden Party

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2022 36:01


    At the start of the 1982 season, a new character, socialite Helena Brooke-Partridge, delivered a line that every Tumblehead now knows by heart: “Let's have a garden party.” But behind the seemingly endless preparations for this spectacularly predictable party, there lurked a chilling agenda. Find out how Tumbler's Willy got itself caught up in a quintessentially 80s scandal. New episodes on Tuesdays. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 7 - Race to the Stars

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2022 34:10


    The 1970s was an era obsessed with science-fiction. And our favourite show's new director “Barnacle” Dennis Neisley was determined to get in on the cosmic action. Tumbler's was heading into space! Where it ended up, of course, was pure Tumbler's. New episode every Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 6 - It Was Tumbler's Years Ago Today: The Turpington Tapes, Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2022 36:28


    Thrust into the heart of ‘60s London counterculture, new director Nate Turpington immediately became obsessed with doing a Tumbler's/Beatles crossover project, and he did get Sir Paul's ear. Find out how Tumbler's Willy's "Colab with the Fab Four" went down. New episode every Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 5 - Voice of a Generation: The Turpington Tapes, Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2022 34:04


    In an era of massive social and cultural upheaval, Tumbler's Willy was in danger of becoming yesterday's news. Enter dynamic, freewheeling director Nate Turpington, a flamboyant dandy with his finger on the new pulse. His first move was literally explosive. Almost overnight, Tumbler's was back at the cutting edge! New episode every Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 4 - Now You See It: Tumbler's On TV!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2022 37:35


    Reinvented in 1952 as a television show, this is where the modern era of Tumbler's begins. From loveable little Tommy Tribbles to the scandalous relationship between Lady Wylington and the enigmatic character known only as “the Mirror”; the 50s really did have it all. And not only that, but after a fifty-seven year-long wait the nation finally got its first glimpse of Tumbler himself! New episodes every Tuesday. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 3 - The Fifty Year Everything

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2022 35:57


    At the end of Tumbler's first season, we hear Michael Wisch's nameless character walk away as a mysterious voice asks, “Where is he going?” Where was he going? Well, Tumbler's Willy was embarking on an audacious experiment in form. Barely a year into its run, the world's first ever radio show was busting out of the dull confines of the box and becoming, quite literally... EVERYTHING. Intrigued? Listen on, Tumbleheads. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 2 - The Man Behind the 'Brrrr'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2022 33:42


    Tumbler's Willy, the fledgling radio show gets its first star in the shape of Michael Wisch, a famous stage actor, who was skeptical of the new medium of radio, but went on to ad-lib one of the show's most iconic lines. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

    Episode 1 - Silence and Sound

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2022 33:51


    Welcome to The Tumbler's Willy Podcast! In our first episode, we introduce you to the show that needs no introduction: Tumbler's Willy. We talk about its origins as a radio show, how it got off to a shaky start and yet was an instant hit. You'll hear all about the trials and tribulations of those early years before Tumbler's became the cultural juggernaut that it became, even though it was of course a juggernaut from the start, but it also became one. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and of course at Tumblerswilly.com

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